[Sandozer]

Originally Posted by Glepor

So I finally found out what the droning noise from the back of my car was. Took it to have the rear wheels balanced this morning, thinking that's what it might be. Guy didn't even need to take the wheels off to diagnose the problem. Both rear tyres are "stepped" or "feathered", on the inside inch or so. Apparently, this means that they are wearing in a sort of undulating pattern which accounts for the vibration when on the move. I asked if this was indicative of a mechanical fault somewhere and he said it was more likely to be because of crap tyres. Went to another place for a 2nd opinion and he confirmed the feathering. He said that on a car with 40k miles plus he might think that the shockers were to blame, but at 27k thought it unlikely. So now I have a dilemma. Do I take it to a dealer (it's still under warranty) and ask them to check for an underlying cause? If they don't find anything, will I get charged for the time they spend investigating? If they do find a mechanical reason, where do I stand re compensation for 2 replacement tyres? If it is just the tyres, is it worth taking it up with the manufacturer? There is still loads of tread on both, so it's a real stinger to have to buy 2 replacements, especially if the same thing might happen again. Finally, if I stick with the tyres and put up with the noise until they need replacing due to low tread, is it likely to damage anything else?

What type of tyres are fitted that are feathered? It could be they are out of balance, that will cause this problem too.